Top 10 Worst Band Reunions

UG editorial team. A group of people who are passionate about guitar and music in general.

Posted on Nov 11, 2013 07:21 am

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Plenty of bands break up, but whether they're good or bad, some of them are just never meant to come back.
We asked Ultimate Guitar readers to nominate and vote for the most disappointing rock reunions ever. Hundreds of nominations and thousands of votes later, and we've got the most miserable bunch of rock sell outs imaginable (okay, that's a little harsh, but so were the voters). Ready?

10. Creed

When they broke up in 2004, Creed swore they would never reform. But in 2009, guitarist Mark Tremonti told fans they were back together, even though it was "the last thing I expected." But despite cries from those who opposed the ultra-mainstream band, they've come back and continue to record and tour.

9. Sublime (with Rome)

Sublime went out of action when frontman Bradley Nowell died in 1996. His family weren't happy when the band decided to reform in 2009 with the new singer Rome Ramirez, and legally challenged their right to use the name. The solution: naming themselves Sublime (with Rome), and thus escaping the technicality.

8. KISS

KISS seem like they've been going for decades, but you might not realise they went out of action in the 1980s when their fame and fortune had almost dropped off the radar. In the '90s, a wave of nostalgia for their extravagant stage presence brought the original lineup back for what became the biggest grossing world tour of 1996/97.

7. The Doors

Even though their irreplaceable frontman Jim Morrison had died in 1971, the band tried replacing him before just disbanding in 1973. They came band and cleverly recorded backing music to Morrison's old poetry in 1978 with what became a hit album, but in some ways it appeared a tasteless cash in on their old name.

6. Van Halen

Technically, Van Halen never really broke up (despite a hiatus in the early 2000s) - but then, they've had so many lineup changes that it's hard to say they're the same band they used to be. Their reunion with Dave Lee Roth last year for "A Different Kind of Truth" is probably what Ultimate Guitar readers voted for, but in the band's credit, that album was considered by many to be a solid comeback. Here's a look at their '90s reunion with Roth.

5. Backstreet Boys

Not that anyone here will care, but the best-selling boy band in history never actually broke up. They just had a big comeback a few years ago. Meh, we don't really care to find out more. Let's just mention they're no more boy band, because it's not trendy anymore.

4. Spice Girls

And now the biggest girl band of all time. Their comeback in 2007 with a "Greatest Hits" album coincided with a massive world tour. Metal fans gave precisely zero f--ks.

3. Queen

Queen isn't Queen without singer Freddie Mercury, and the band have been careful to list themselves as "Queen with..." preceding the singer's name. Paul Rodgers fronted them in the mid 2000s, and more recently Adam Lambert was recruited to front a major forthcoming festival in the UK - which was then cancelled.

2. Fall Out Boy

In February this year, Fall Out Boy torched their previous albums to mark a new beginning for the band. Let's see if the forthcoming EPs they've announced will live up to their promise that it'll feature more aggressive guitar work inspired by playing in hardcore bands in their younger years.

1. Guns N' Roses

The early '90s lineups of Guns N' Roses remain some of the greatest in rock n' roll history. We have respect for the current Gn'R as talented musicians, and Axl Rose can still blast out a solid tune despite letting himself go, but it's not Guns N' Roses. No way. And it never really will be.

That's the end of our roundup of the worst reunions of all time. Which one strikes you as the most disappointing reformation ever? Do you disagree with any of the above nominations? Post your thoughts in the comments.

"And now the biggest girl band of all time. Their comeback in 2007 with a "Greatest Hits" album coincided with a massive world tour. Metal fans gave precisely zero f--ks."
Just change the name to ultimate-metal already if it's this obvious..

I like playing playing many more genres of music than metal, and like many of them more. I would really like to see more artivles etc., regarding music that isn't metal. But I guess complaining here won't help.

I get the feeling that the reason the Top 100 Tabs is the way it is, is because guys on here have girlfriends they need to impress. Not saying that in a bad way though, considering I'll definitely be one of those guys.

The comment section doesn't reflect the majority of visitors to the site - The most viewed tabs are often pop or simple rock songs. Additionally, those who actually create an account to "discuss" and review music are usually interrested in more than a single genre, though I'll give you that metal is the genre most active users here have in common.

Yea, I'm with you on this one lad. Axl just locked himself in a studio for 15 years and would fire and hire musicians week after week. I don't see how it counts as a reunion either. If anything, it is the polar opposite of it lol.

I would actually say that they broke up but the new GNR is definitely not a reunion. IMO reunion means that the original members get back together. If a band just decides to continue after a breakup but with a different lineup, I would consider that a comeback.

So what? Who cares about how technical he is? Without Slash there's no real GNR. It's not about technical skills, it's about style. Also, Slash can play the guitar very well. He isn't the most technical guitarist but he's a good guitarist.
I think it was Bruce Kulick who said that every professional guitarist could play in almost any band - playing the songs would be not a problem. But it's more about the style and chemistry. Some guitarists just fit some bands better. It's all about style, not about technique.

i beg to disagree, although style is important you can't say that it's all that matters, that's just rubbish. one should know that technique is also important, and so is groove, a good ear and a good taste. the combination of all these makes a good musician, add drugs, sex and alchool and you have a rockstar

This doesn't make sense. As the previous post said "every professional guitarist could play in almost any band", so all that groove and technique shit is implied in being a pro musician. Style made bands unique, not technique or groove.

Yeah and do you think Slash doesn't have a good ear and groove? I was talking about professional musicians, not basic bedroom shredders. Almost any guitarist in almost any professional band could play all Guns N Roses songs and solos. But that doesn't mean they are the right guitarist for the band.

if we are going to talk about the best guitarist to ever be in guns n roses, lets bring out buckethead. i hate guns n roses but i only even considered them cool only when bucket was in there. now that he is out i give no more s h i t s about that band.

You're right about that.
I think the closest thing to a GNR reunion was the Hall of Fame introduction; where everyone except Axl from the original Lineup played together. Last time before that this happen in what-1990?

Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls didn't have that bad of a comeback. It may not be popular on this website, and I'm not and never will be a fan, but it wasn't a bad reunion at all for what they were/are.

Agreed. Still, that isn't a "reunion". It's a band reformation. Like the Queen entry and the Sublime entry as well. The band is not reunited. It's reformed with different members.
You can't reunite if you were never united to begin with.

Actually found this list rather disappointing. KISS wasn't so much a bad reunion as it was an obvious cash grab for Gene and Paul. Peter and Ace got paid peanuts compared, hence one of the main reasons they left again.
I don't mind the way Queen have done it, considering they recognize that they'll never be the same without Freddie and haven't so much tried to replace him as they have just continued to semi-regularly tour with featured singers.
Gunners just plain never actually broke up.
Who even gives a crap about the Spice Girls?
Van Halen is a difficult one. Their reunion attempt in '96 was sad for all involved, but I've quite enjoyed their new album. And as for their touring, Diamond Dave will never be the same as he used to be, granted, but they still put on an amazing show. And honestly, Wolfie imo is a better bassist than Michael Anthony anyway.